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Ravens SS Tony Jefferson underwent sports hernia surgery last month.

Jefferson is reportedly back to full health, but coach John Harbaugh is taking it slow with his new safety. He should return to full practices in the near future. Signed to a four-year, $34-million deal in March, Jefferson will start opposite Eric Weddle. Jul 27 - 1:21 PM

New Ravens S Tony Jefferson confirms he turned down more money from the Browns.

"I don't play football for money," Jefferson said on NFL Network. It's doubtful the difference was all that significant, but a reminder of the fact the Browns are going to get upcharged by free agents for as long as they're tanking. Mar 16 - 5:57 PM

Ravens signed S Tony Jefferson, formerly of the Cardinals, to a four-year, $34 million contract with $19 million guaranteed.

Jefferson can earn up to $37 million if all his incentives are reached. The market's top safety, Jefferson was also drawing interest from the Jets and Browns, the latter of which were reportedly offering the most money. Jefferson chose the Ravens' infinitely better odds of winning in 2017, though we doubt he's taking that much of a discount. A 2013 UDFA, Jefferson gradually saw his playing time increase before breaking out as a full-time player the past two years. He's a playmaker. Jefferson's addition is a sign Lardarius Webb will be sent packing. Mar 8 - 9:22 PM

The Jets were the early favorites for Jefferson but have since fallen behind the Browns and Ravens. They aren't expected to come close to what Cleveland is offering. Jefferson is expected to get more than $7 million annually. Mar 8 - 6:15 PM

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New Ravens S Tony Jefferson confirms he turned down more money from the Browns.

"I don't play football for money," Jefferson said on NFL Network. It's doubtful the difference was all that significant, but a reminder of the fact the Browns are going to get upcharged by free agents for as long as they're tanking.

Ravens signed S Tony Jefferson, formerly of the Cardinals, to a four-year, $34 million contract with $19 million guaranteed.

Jefferson can earn up to $37 million if all his incentives are reached. The market's top safety, Jefferson was also drawing interest from the Jets and Browns, the latter of which were reportedly offering the most money. Jefferson chose the Ravens' infinitely better odds of winning in 2017, though we doubt he's taking that much of a discount. A 2013 UDFA, Jefferson gradually saw his playing time increase before breaking out as a full-time player the past two years. He's a playmaker. Jefferson's addition is a sign Lardarius Webb will be sent packing.

The Jets were the early favorites for Jefferson but have since fallen behind the Browns and Ravens. They aren't expected to come close to what Cleveland is offering. Jefferson is expected to get more than $7 million annually.

Per Garofolo, the Ravens are also after the soon-to-be former Cardinal, but aren't competing with the Browns financially. Jefferson is easily the market's top safety. He'll have to decide between money and a chance to win in 2017. We don't have to tell you what usually wins out.

Jefferson would be a big upgrade for the Browns, who featured a revolving door at safety last year. The 25-year-old is expected to command $7-10 million annually. The Browns have more than enough cap space to pull that off.

AzCardinals.com expects free agent S Tony Jefferson to be out of the team's price range.

In-house reporter Darren Urban believes Jefferson could fetch as much as $10 million per year on the open market. CBS' Jason La Canfora reported last month that Jefferson was a goner in the desert. Having just turned 25, Jefferson is in prime position to command a huge deal coming off an excellent 2016.

Bleacher Report's Jason Cole reports those around the league expect free agent S Tony Jefferson to command $7 million per year.

We could see Jefferson getting more than that in this market. He's the top safety available and just turned 25. Getting $7 million annually would tie Jefferson with Eagles FS Rodney McLeod as the 10th-highest-paid safety. With teams needing secondary help and armed with plenty of money due to an always-increasing salary cap, Jefferson could end up costing $9 million-plus.

Jefferson is the top safety available after Eric Berry re-signed with the Chiefs. Jefferson turned 25 in January and played the first two years of his career for Jets coach Todd Bowles in Arizona. The Cardinals want Jefferson back but already have a lot of money tied up in their secondary. Jefferson showed elite run-stopping skills as a box safety in 2016.

La Canfora added he would be "absolutely shocked" if Jefferson re-signed with the Cardinals, adding a "return to Arizona is not in the cards." The Arizona Republic reported Friday morning that the Cardinals have had "positive conversations" with Jefferson and free agent OLB Chandler Jones, but "no deal is imminent." Jones will be franchise tagged if no deal is reached, increasing the likelihood Jefferson reaches the open market.

Jefferson made 14 starts last season before landing on I.R. with a sprained MCL. He's healthy now and graded out as Pro Football Focus' No. 6 safety among 91 qualifiers, excelling in run defense. The former UDFA turned 25 in January and will likely end up as free agency's top safety once Eric Berry gets tagged or extended. Arizona will have to make a serious big-money offer to keep Jefferson.

Jefferson has a "grade two" sprain, but should be ready for the offseason program. CBS puts his recovery at 4-6 weeks. Playing on an "original-pick" tender as a restricted free agent, Jefferson is headed back to free agency. The 24 year old played 930 excellent snaps this season. An unrealistic candidate for the franchise tag, he could have a nice market.

Restricted free agent S Tony Jefferson said he is likely staying with the Cardinals.

Arizona offered Jefferson an original-round tender, meaning it would cost no draft compensation for another team to acquire him via an offer sheet. He has yet to see significant interest, however, and is likely best suited playing out his one-year tender before hitting the open market in 2017. With Rashad Johnson gone to Nashville and Tyrann Mathieu (ACL) questionable at best for Week 1, Jefferson is on track to play heavy snaps.

It's the lowest possible tender, setting Jefferson's 2016 salary at $1.67 million. That assumes a safety-needy NFL team won't pursue signing Jefferson to an offer sheet. If that happens and the Cardinals fail to match, Steve Keim's club would get nothing in return. Jefferson is toward the top of this year's restricted free agent market. Arizona's oft-used third safety last season, Jefferson notched 78 tackles, two sacks, three picks, and two forced fumbles. He's a 24-year-old playmaker.

ESPN Cardinals reporter Josh Weinfuss expects S Tony Jefferson to have a reduced role this season.

Jefferson made eight starts and played 746 snaps last year. With Tyrann Mathieu healthy, Jefferson should back up Rashad Johnson. Deone Bucannon will play in sub packages when Mathieu moves to the slot.

Depth Charts

Joe Flacco (back) will not play in the preseason but is expected to start Week 1 against the Bengals.

Flacco received good news after having his back reexamined. He'll miss the Ravens' preseason slate as a precaution but should resume practicing at some point during camp and expects to be a go for Week 1. Flacco's improvement should come as a huge relief to Baltimore's pass-catching corps including Jeremy Maclin, Mike Wallace, Breshad Perriman and Danny Woodhead.

The usual timeline for the injury is around a month, and the receiver has already missed two weeks. Coach John Harbaugh did not rule out Perriman returning during the preseason, but it is more likely they try to get him ready for Week 1. "He's making progress. Everything is on schedule," Harbaugh said. "They're happy with the way he's progressing." Coming off a lost camp, Perriman should be well behind both Jeremy Maclin and Mike Wallace in the pecking order.

Ravens RG Marshal Yanda (shoulder) guaranteed he will be ready for Week 1.

Yanda wouldn't say if he'll be ready for training camp as he continues to rehab from labrum surgery. He's heading into his age-33 season and doesn't necessarily need to practice to be ready to play in the opener. Yanda has been Pro Football Focus' No. 1 overall guard in back-to-back-to-back years.